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Parliament reports on SAVE and SYNERGY energy programmes

At its meeting in Strasbourg on 16 April 1996, the European Parliament adopted opinions on the SAVE II programme for the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community (1996-2000), and the SYNERGY programme to promote international cooperation in the energy sector (1996-2000)...

At its meeting in Strasbourg on 16 April 1996, the European Parliament adopted opinions on the SAVE II programme for the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community (1996-2000), and the SYNERGY programme to promote international cooperation in the energy sector (1996-2000). The SAVE II programme, which will continue the previous SAVE programme (1991-1995), was broadly welcomed by Parliament. However, amendments were introduced aiming to improve the targeting of SAVE II measures, and to increase the energy efficiency improvement target. MEPs voted to include an annex listing actions to be undertaken under the programme, and the proportion of funding to be directed to each area. The Parliament also called for greater coordination between Community energy initiatives, and for the programme to be opened to associated countries in the Mediterranean region, in addition to Central and Eastern Europe. Parliament also welcomed the SYNERGY programme, but again introduced amendments to target the programme's limited resources on more specific areas. Parliament wants to set priorities for the regions in which SYNERGY actions are implemented, with countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the Mediterranean region having priority. In this context, Parliament placed particular emphasis on the need to coordinate the Community's various energy initiatives with other external relations policies, in particular with the applicant countries. Parliament also introduced an amendment enabling emergency operations in line with the EU's external political commitments to be undertaken through the SYNERGY programme. The two proposals will now be considered by the Council of Ministers, who will make the final decisions on the legislative acts for the two programmes.

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